Citrus Aid

Citrus “Aid”

My Inspiration 

I was inspired to create this recipe by a local Los Angeles urban farmer, Sylvia Alvarado, who continues to keep her late son’s memory alive with Brian’s Orchard. Her dear son, Brian was a true warrior for the underdogs of our society; which included helping teens living in poverty and on the street.

Inspired by her son’s mission, Sylvia created a service where businesses with storefronts and a little grass could opt to have a fruit bearing tree planted for free in front of their business. The only requirement is that when the tree bears fruit, the business would need to “pay it forward” by allowing anyone in need to pick the fruit. This is what the permaculture movement represents to me - sharing with the community. We need more Sylvia Alvarado’s.

Since citrus grows so well in Southern California, I decided that a Citrus-Aid would be most appropriate. This is a much healthier alternative to drinking soda or bottled juice, which is often sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Minerals Help to Stay Hydrated

Hydration requires more than water. It needs minerals to maintain optimal cellular fluid levels. Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium are the three main minerals that provide muscle health and energy. This citrus-Aid would be greatly enhanced by using a quality mineral water of your choice

Citrus-Aid is a cleansing and simple beverage to prepare. Try adding thin slices of fresh cucumber to this refreshing drink; it’s an easy, fun way to get your kids to start eating raw vegetables. (They can be a nice treat for adults, too!)

Ingredients:

2 Juice Oranges, preferably Purple Blood Oranges juiced

1 Lemon, juiced

1 Lime, juiced

¼ Cup Organic Raw Honey or Organic Cane Sugar, Erythritol or Stevia to taste

3 ½ Cups Water

1/2 Cup Cucumber, thinly sliced with the skin on (optional)

Method:

1.)  Juice oranges, lemon, and lime and combine in a glass container.

2.)  Add sweetener and let it dissolve for ten minutes

3.)  Combine sweetened citrus and water. Chill.

 

Hydrating Blood Orange, Chamomile and Lemon Iced Tisane

Yield: 1 Quart

Ingredients:

2 Blood Oranges

1 -2 Tablespoons or bags of Chamomile Tea

½ Lemon, preferably local or Domestic Organic

1/3 Cup Organic Cane Sugar or Sweetener of Choice

! Quart Clean Filtered Water, divided in two

Method:

1. Steep the chamomile tea in 2 cups of hot water for five minutes or more. Let cool
2. Squeeze juice from blood oranges and lemon into a cup. Sweeten to taste. Pour this mixture into a 1 quart pitcher.
3. Add the tea to the juice and top with the remaining two cups of water. Refrigerate and enjoy! This is a great beverage for hydrating during the day.

Chamomile is known to sooth the stomach and relieve anxiety.